A westerly airflow lies over New Zealand on Friday, a front moves onto the lower South Island late morning then pushing northwards during the day reaching the lower North Island overnight. With this front comes a cold southwest change.

For the upper North Island expect mostly cloudy skies with occasional areas of sun at times, winds from the southwest for most although an afternoon sea breeze develops about eastern Northland. Chance of a light shower or two also mainly from afternoon about coastal Waikato southwards. The Bay Of Plenty has more frequent areas of sun.

The lower North Island sees mostly cloudy skies in the west, chance of a brief shower or two from midday. Winds becoming brisk in the afternoon from the west. The east coast and Wellington has mainly sunny weather, west to northwesterly pick up during the day. Temperatures reaching into the mid 20’s along the east coast in the afternoon. Overnight a south to southwesterly change pushes in bringing the risk of a shower.

For the South Island’s West Coast we see mostly cloudy skies, chance of a shower. Some rain moves into South Westland during the morning then pushing northwards during the day, a southwest change follows in behind.

The east coast of the South Island has mainly sunny conditions and some high cloud, during the morning a southwest change pushes first into Southland then Otago bringing a period of shower. Once this change moves into Canterbury afternoon heating will contribute to instability which results in heavy showers, possible thunderstorms and hail. These showers clear overnight. Temperatures about Canterbury and Marlborough reaching into the low to mid 20’s during the afternoon.

Not all regions and towns have been mentioned above. For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz